Old Line Spirits Cask Strength American Single Malt Whiskey
In case yesterday’s review wasn’t clear, I am a big fan of Old Line Spirits’ American Single Malt. Ever the proof hound, I’m even more a fan of their Cask Strength American Single Malt.
The current batch, proofed at 62.2%/124.4 proof, is excellent. All the rich, dark notes found in the original American Single Malt are amped up, adding maple in multiple forms (sugar, syrup, smoke, and unctuousness) and a Bananas Foster wallop worthy of the best Jack Daniel’s Barrel Proof.
There’s not much more to say about this than that it belongs on every shelf. It will please drinkers of bourbons, Jack Daniel’s, and American Single Malts. It drinks at proof with richness and mouthfeel that temper the heat just enough. It is worthy of the Old Line of Maryland, whose story I’ve summarized here.
During the Battle of Brooklyn - the largest battle in the entire American Revolution by troops involved - the nascent Continental Army and the Revolution itself was nearly snuffed out before it began. The British took over Brooklyn piece by piece, forcing General Washington and the troops north to Brooklyn Heights, through which they would eventually escape.
The poorly trained colonial army was able to escape at a heavy loss, eventually crossing Manhattan and the rivers into New Jersey to regroup. It was an unmitigated loss for the to-be Americans.
Suffering the heaviest losses were the Maryland 400, a corps of troops that were likely the best trained troops at Washington’s command (to be fair, there were also Delaware soldiers there, but they are almost always subsumed into the Maryland title). These troops staged their own Thermopylae, holding off the advancing British army while the rest of the Continental Army retreated. They were killed almost to a man (only around a dozen survived), inflicting significant damage on the British as they fell.
Washington never forgot the sacrifice. He called the Marylanders his Old Line and honored them for saving his army from annihilation. Today, Maryland’s official title is “The Old Line State”, and a series of upcoming reviews and a podcast appearance from Old Line Spirits will delve deeper into that. When the Maryland contingent was reconstituted, it was still one of the best-trained groups in the entire army.
So there you have it. The backstory for “Old Line”. Thank you to Arch for walking me through that history during my visit to Old Line Spirits’ distillery in Baltimore.
That’s all you need to know. Now go order one. Trust me.
Thank you to Old Line Spirits for providing this bottle with no constraints.
Old Line Spirits Cask Strength American Single Malt Whiskey: Specs
Classification: American Single Malt Whiskey
Origin: Old Line Spirits Distillery
Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley
Proof: 124.4 (62.2% ABV)
Age: NAS
Location: Baltimore, MD
Old Line Spirits Cask Strength American Single Malt Whiskey Price: $55
Old Line Spirits Cask Strength American Single Malt Whiskey Review: Tasting Notes
Eye: Grade A maple syrup. Thin rims and slow, thick, syrupy legs.
Nose: Dark malt syrup, the barest hint of proof. Vanilla extract, vanilla bean paste, dark rum. There’s enough oak to make its presence known. Overall turns more and more bourbon-y as you back away.
Palate: Thick and maple-forward. Maple candies and an almost Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof profile of flambeed Bananas Foster. The proof kicks in deliciously as the malt syrup enters the palate, tasting of unsweetened Pepsi cola syrup. Mouthfeel is chewable and syrupy, coating and filling without being too heavy. Just excellent. The maple and cola drive the profile without ever turning too sweet somehow.
Finish: Again, almost bourbon-esque with a JDBP mouthfeel and length. Wow.
Overall: This is truly excellent. Like old Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, Jack Daniel’s Barrel Proof, and American Single Malt had a baby. Solid proof levels throughout with a chewy mouthfeel and fantastic depth behind the nose and palate.
Final Rating: 8.2
10 | Insurpassable | Nothing Else Comes Close
9 | Incredible | Extraordinary
8 | Excellent | Exceptional
7 | Great | Well above average
6 | Very Good | Better than average
5 | Good | Good, solid, ordinary
4 | Has promise but needs work
1-3 | Let’s have a conversation
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